Land Suitability and Proposed Land Utilization of Selaru Island, West Southeast Moluccas Regency for Development Food Crops

Abstract

ABSTRAKThe study was conducted in Selaru Island, West Southeast Moluccas Regency in an area of 32,217 ha. The research objective was to determine the land suitability and proposed land utilization of Selaru Island for development of food crops. The results showed that Selaru Island has a rather suitable (S2) and marginally suitable (S3) for six crops (upland rice, corn, peanuts, mungbeans, sweet potato, and caladium) covering an area of 19,330 ha and not suitable permanent (N2) for the six crops covering an area of 3,905 ha, while the area of 8,982 ha partly classified accordingly (S3) to plant upland rice and calladium and partially classified as not suitable (N1 and N2) for corn, peanuts, mungbeans, and sweet potatoes. The main limiting factor to the primary land use for food crops in Selaru Island, West Southeast Moluccas Regency among others are the temperatures (the average annual temperature is high), rooting medium (soil solum is shallow), nutrient retention (soil pH is rather alkaline to alkaline), erosion hazard level is moderate, and terrain (wave, rocks on the surface of the soil, and rock outcrop).The proposed land utilization of Selaru Island for food crops based on land suitability classes are (1) food crops of upland-1 with the main commodities of corn, mungbeans, uwi/kumbili and caladium an area of 5,299 ha, (2) food crops of upland-2 with the main commodities of upland rice, uwi/kumbili and caladium an area of 8,982 ha, and (3) food crops of upland-3 with the main commodities peanuts and mungbean an area of 14,031 ha. Development of food crops in Selaru Island need to consider the priority scale factor, the level of compliance, and social culture of the local community.Keywords: Food crops, land suitability, limiting factor, proposed land utilization, Selaru Island Penelitian dilakukan di Pulau Selaru, kabupaten Maluku Tenggasra Barat pada areal seluas 32.217 ha. Tujuan penelitian adalah untuk mengetahui kelas kesesuaian lahan dan arahan penggunaan lahan Pulau Selaru untuk pengembangan tanaman pangan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Pulau Selaru memiliki lahan yang agak sesuai (S2) dan sesuai marginal (S3) untuk enam jenis tanaman pangan (padi gogo, jagung, kacang tanah, kacang hijau, ubi jalar, dan keladi) seluas 19.330 ha dan yang tidak sesuai permanen (N2) untuk keenam jenis tanaman pangan seluas 3.905 ha, sedangkan lahan seluas 8.982 ha sebagian tergolong sesuai (S3) untuk tanaman padi gogo dan keladi dan sebagian tergolong tidak sesuai (N1 dan N2) untuk tanaman jagung, kacang tanah, kacang hijau, dan ubi jalar. Faktor pembatas utama penggunaan lahan Pulau Selaru, Maluku Tenggara Barat ntuk tanaman pangan antara lain adalah temperatur tinggi, media perakaran (solum tanah dangkal), retensi hara (pH tanah agak alkalis sampai alkalis), tingkat bahaya erosi sedang, dan terrain (berombak, batuan pada permukaan tanah dan singkapan batuan). Arahan penggunaan lahan Pulau Selaru untuk tanaman pangan berdasarkan kelas kesesuaian lahan adalah (1) tanaman pangan lahan kering-1 dengan komodit...

Identification of land characteristics to increase red chili productivity in Mangunan, Bantul, Indonesia

“…To determine land suitability classes, this research uses the law of the heaviest limiting factors [14]. The analysis results are grouped into classes very suitable (S1), quite suitable (S2), marginal suitable (S3), and unsuitable (N) [11][12][13][14][15]. Determination of land suitability classes is displayed using spatial analysis using ArcGIS which is used to map land suitability classes [16].…”

“…In order to determine the suitability of land for specific purposes, it is essential to categorize land suitability. Land suitability classification is the evaluation and categorization of land based on its appropriateness for specific purposes [11][12][13]. Hence, it is necessary to assess the appropriateness of the site in order to get data on land suitability for cultivating chili plants.…”